This is where science, art, and functionality converge. It's a meticulously crafted, anatomically accurate glass heart, created by Gary Farlow and his small team of sculptors at Farlow's Scientific Glassblowing. In an interview with Wired's Bryan Gardiner, Farlow says he and his team can create these transparent models for almost every part of the body. And while they're undeniably beautiful, these hyaloid masterpieces serve an instructive purpose, as well. Explains Gardiner:

Their anatomically correct models can be designed to simulate blood flow, teach placement of catheters and angioplasty devices, or simply test or demo new surgical gizmos. Individual arteries, veins, and capillaries are shaped and fused together, one at a time. Ground-glass joints are added at the exposed ends so a head, say, can be connected to the carotid arteries should customers want to expand their model.

Photograph by Gary McLeod

Read more, and check out many more pictures of structures created by FSG, over at Wired.